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D'haquille Williams | Wide Receiver

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Rams signed Auburn WR Duke Williams.

Many loved Williams' projection after a strong 2014 season, but so much of that production came out of the slot that he did not profile as a top flight prospect. Williams then was dismissed from the program in 2015. He proceeded to flunk the Combine, running 4.72 with a 30-inch vertical. Williams combines major character concerns with sub-baseline-NFL athleticism and poor college production. It's been all downhill for Williams since his fantastic high school career. May 11 - 10:33 AM

NFL Media senior analyst Gil Brandt noted that Auburn WR D'haquille Williams "had a good positional workout" during his Pro Day on March 4.

Williams worked through position drills with Patriots director of player personnel Nick Caserio. If you look up the term "enigmatic" in the dictionary, Williams' picture would be pasted there right alongside Robert Nkemdiche's. The 6-foot-2, 220-pound wideout was dismissed from the team in October due to his part in a bar fight. NFL teams have been predictably concerned about his character. An NFC director of personnel said in mid-February that he wouldn't draft Williams "in any round." Which, fair. But the receiver himself was at least publicly remorseful at the NFL Scouting Combine when he said, "It's my fault [I got kicked off the team] because I should have learned." He also referred to his character as that of a "seventh-round pick." Mar 27 - 3:02 PM

Auburn WR D'haquille Williams addressed his character concerns at the NFL Scouting Combine when he said, "off the field I'm a seventh-round pick. My character is seventh round."

That's certainly honest enough. This past season, Williams was dismissed from the Tigers after he was involved in an October bar fight. The 6-foot-2, 224-pounder indicated that he's received counseling for his attitude. Of course, that won't stop NFL teams from poking at his character in interviews. Indeed, Williams said that team questions have been "all about character," rather than football. "I regret the fight. [HC Gus] Malzahn, he gave me chance after chance. It's not his fault. It's my fault because I should've learned. He took a chance on me. And I hurt the Auburn family by getting dismissed," Williams said. This is the kind of honesty he'll need to continue to show if he wants to actually rise above that self-appointed "seventh round" projection. Earlier in February, an NFC director of personnel indicated that he wouldn't draft Williams in "any round," so there's still work to do here. Feb 25 - 10:25 PM

Ouch. Reasonable, but ouch nonetheless. Williams was booted off the team in October following an alleged bar fight. After Sammie Coates left for the NFL in 2015, it was thought that the 6-foot-2, 224-pounder would take on a larger receiving role. That failed to coalesce, through little fault of the program. Wrote Zierlein, "With no Senior Bowl invite and a reputation as a malcontent, Williams is unlikely to be taken before the third day of the draft and might go completely undrafted unless he blows teams away at his workout sessions." The analyst is concerned that beyond the very legitimate off-field/character concerns, there's just not enough of a big play ability to wash out the other, murkier elements that come along for the ride. He compared the former Tiger to former UConn WR Geremy Davis, who was selected by the Giants in the sixth round of the 2015 draft. Feb 19 - 10:31 PM

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NFL Media senior analyst Gil Brandt noted that Auburn WR D'haquille Williams "had a good positional workout" during his Pro Day on March 4.

Williams worked through position drills with Patriots director of player personnel Nick Caserio. If you look up the term "enigmatic" in the dictionary, Williams' picture would be pasted there right alongside Robert Nkemdiche's. The 6-foot-2, 220-pound wideout was dismissed from the team in October due to his part in a bar fight. NFL teams have been predictably concerned about his character. An NFC director of personnel said in mid-February that he wouldn't draft Williams "in any round." Which, fair. But the receiver himself was at least publicly remorseful at the NFL Scouting Combine when he said, "It's my fault [I got kicked off the team] because I should have learned." He also referred to his character as that of a "seventh-round pick."

Auburn WR D'haquille Williams addressed his character concerns at the NFL Scouting Combine when he said, "off the field I'm a seventh-round pick. My character is seventh round."

That's certainly honest enough. This past season, Williams was dismissed from the Tigers after he was involved in an October bar fight. The 6-foot-2, 224-pounder indicated that he's received counseling for his attitude. Of course, that won't stop NFL teams from poking at his character in interviews. Indeed, Williams said that team questions have been "all about character," rather than football. "I regret the fight. [HC Gus] Malzahn, he gave me chance after chance. It's not his fault. It's my fault because I should've learned. He took a chance on me. And I hurt the Auburn family by getting dismissed," Williams said. This is the kind of honesty he'll need to continue to show if he wants to actually rise above that self-appointed "seventh round" projection. Earlier in February, an NFC director of personnel indicated that he wouldn't draft Williams in "any round," so there's still work to do here.

Ouch. Reasonable, but ouch nonetheless. Williams was booted off the team in October following an alleged bar fight. After Sammie Coates left for the NFL in 2015, it was thought that the 6-foot-2, 224-pounder would take on a larger receiving role. That failed to coalesce, through little fault of the program. Wrote Zierlein, "With no Senior Bowl invite and a reputation as a malcontent, Williams is unlikely to be taken before the third day of the draft and might go completely undrafted unless he blows teams away at his workout sessions." The analyst is concerned that beyond the very legitimate off-field/character concerns, there's just not enough of a big play ability to wash out the other, murkier elements that come along for the ride. He compared the former Tiger to former UConn WR Geremy Davis, who was selected by the Giants in the sixth round of the 2015 draft.

"Surprise" might be an understatement here. Not only has Williams' production never quite lived up to expectation (in 2014, his best season with the Tigers, he logged a 45-730-5 receiving line), the 6-foot-2, 224-pounder was dismissed from the program this past October after he allegedly punched teammate Xavier Campeer during a bar fight. The off-field concerns are bad enough, but Brugler also landed another strike against him, noting that "coaches quickly grew tired of his laziness on the field."

Former Auburn senior WR Duke Williams acknowledged he made "mistake after mistake" prior to his dismissal.

"I just wanna thank Auburn for everything they done for me and the people that helped me I made mistake after mistake so it’s only right I blame myself," Williams wrote on Instagram. "I just wanna say sorry to my family my teammates and the auburn family/fans… Everybody love you when Yu on top but once you hit the bottom all the negativity come out but it’s only human I wish my brothers the best of luck the rest of the season do work." We wouldn't necessarily deem criticizing a person's character after he reportedly punched four people during a bar brawl the ugly side of human nature. But it's like what Alexander Pope counseled NFL scouts all those years ago: "To punch half the bar is human, to forgive divine."

Dismissed Auburn senior WR Duke Williams allegedly punched center Xavier Dampeer during the bar brawl that led to his ejection from school.

Dampeer has been treated and released, according to the ABC affiliate in Montgomery, Ala. "I’m not going to get into any details," HC Gus Malzahn said. Williams allegedly punched three more people in the epic end to his decidedly non-epic Tigers' career. Fortunately for him, no criminal charges have been filed. "We cannot file charges until the injured person(s) comes forward," Auburn police chief Paul Register said. "Unless an officer personally sees a fight, no arrests can be made."

Dismissed Auburn senior WR Duke Williams allegedly punched four people at a bar after the school's win over San Jose State, according to AL.com's Wesley Sinor.

The four people: two security guards, a bartender assistant and another unidentified patron of a bar. The altercation allegedly began when Williams' friend was kicked out of a bar for wearing sunglasses, and Williams tried to get him re-access with his "celebrity status." The victims stated they would press charges unless Auburn punished Williams, which they seemingly did by dismissing the receiver. Again, it has been quite a year for the "troubled" football player.

After being dismissed from the football team, senior WR Duke Williams will no longer attend Auburn.

Williams will almost certainly enter the NFL Draft, but some analysts have questioned if he will be selected before the third day or even drafted at all. Gus Malzahn has refused to disclose any information on the dismissal, but Williams faced multiple infractions dating back to last season.

Williams was booted off Auburn on Monday after repeatedly clashing with HC Gus Malzahn. He's got more problems with scouts than that. "He has great size, and he has very good hands and he's tough, but if you're not a good locker-room guy, and I've heard from scouts that he's a selfish player and not a good guy, then you better have a great trait like speed. He doesn't. Size isn't enough," Zierlein said. "Big wide receivers that don't get open are a dime a dozen." Williams is a "physical No. 2 receiver, at best," the analyst went on to say. "Tape says he should be drafted inside the first four rounds, maybe the first three, but his character and athleticism are going to probably make him a third-day guy (rounds 4-7)," Zierlein said. "And if the Auburn staff can't support his character when scouts ask about it, he might not even get picked. As long as what he did to get kicked off isn't criminal, he should go third day."

Auburn senior WR Duke Williams has been dismissed from the football program.

"When individuals fail to meet the expectations of our program, there has to be consequences," head coach Gus Malzahn said in a statement. "I gave D'haquille the chance to prove himself. I am disappointed that it did not work out." It has been quite a year for Duke. He elected to return to school rather than the NFL. Then he posted some *interesting* tweets insinuating he was not happy at Auburn. He was then benched and dropped to the bottom of the depth chart. It has been a bad season for Williams on the field, catching just 12 passes for 147 yards and a touchdown. He projects to the slot.

Auburn HC Gus Malzahn said there is nothing that senior WR Duke Williams is "doing wrong or he needs to do better," in terms of production on his end.

"We were trying to get it to him early (against Mississippi State) and there was some double coverage issues," Auburn coach Gus Malzahn told AL.com. "He's one of the impact players, there's no doubt, and we need to find a way not only to get the ball to him." The Auburn prospect has only recorded 11 catches for 130 yards and one touchdown, so far this season. Opposing teams are getting smart these days, as they're taking away the Tiger's best weapon in the passing game, while forcing Auburn's quarterbacks to go elsewhere.

"Few senior receivers were rated higher than Williams entering the season but he’s proving to be an enigma. He comes with mouthwatering size/speed numbers (6’ 2.5"/225lbs/4.5s) but has a disturbing tendency to drop catchable passes, something which plagued him during the loss to Mississippi State," Pauline writes. The Auburn prospect has had a disappointing season so far, hauling in just 11 receptions for 130 yards and one touchdown. Pauline expects that kind of production from "a middle round tight end versus a top 60 receiver prospect."

Auburn wide receivers coach Dameyune Craig said defenses are taking away the school's deep threats to not allow the offense to get into rhythm.

Craig said junior quarterback Jeremy Johnson is "in a rut." Receiver Melvin Ray added "we've been out of sync now for three weeks, honestly," citing a lack of explosive plays against LSU. Through three games, Duke Williams only has seven catches for 81 yards and a touchdown.

"Williams is a physical specimen who stand over 6-feet/2-inches and tips the scale north of 220-pounds. And while he regularly beats down defenders to come away with the reception, he also drops a lot of catchable throws and shows little in the way of polish in his game. The Auburn prospect recorded 45 receptions for 730 yards, with five touchdowns, in only 10 games of play last year. Pauline notes that Williams "entered the season with high expectations from scouts, some who graded him as a potential first round prospect."